The present study reports the level of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in 27 commercially important fish, crustaceans and cephalopods from Orissa coast, Bay of Bengal to provide the baseline data for oil contamination in marine biota. The results showed significant differences in the TPH concentration in different species. Of all fish, Carangoides malabaricus showed the maximum TPH level (av. 13.70μgg⁻¹). In cephalopods, Loligo recorded the maximum TPH (av. 14.87μgg⁻¹) while Metapenaeus dobsoni recorded the maximum TPH (av. 13.18μgg⁻¹) among crustaceans. The concentration of TPH recorded in the present study were higher than the reported values from other studies in Bay of Bengal but were comparable with those of other Indian coast and Gulf water. The species recording maximum concentration and giving significant correlation coefficient may be of interest in oil pollution monitoring and can be used as indicator of hydrocarbon pollution in the region.

We quantify and compare different measures of potential propagule pressure (PPP) of aquatic invasive species (AIS) from commercial vessels in Canada. We used ship arrivals and ballast water discharge volumes as proxies for PPP from ballast water organisms, and wetted surface area (WSA) as a proxy for hull fouling PPP, to determine their relative contributions to total PPP. For three regions studied, PPP proxies correlated significantly across ports and some vessel categories. Relative contributions of ship arrivals, ballast discharge, and WSAs to PPP, evidenced by non-significant correlations across these measures, varied across regions, ports, vessel types, and seasons. Flow-through (dominant on east and west coasts) and empty-refill (in Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region) were the major ballast water exchange methods employed by the vessels surveyed. These methods have different biological efficacy for AIS removal, influencing PPP. Our study illustrates benefits and limitations of using different PPP proxies to estimate invasion risk.

To obtain insight into the natural and/or human-induced changes in the trophic state of the distal portion of the Po River discharge plume over the last two centuries, high temporal resolution dinoflagellate cyst records were established at three sites. Cyst production rates appear to reflect the natural variability in the river’s discharge, whereas cyst associations reflect the trophic state of the upper waters, which in turn can be related to agricultural development. The increased abundances of Lingulodinium machaerophorum and Stelladinium stellatum found as early as 1890 and 1920 correspond to the beginning of the industrial revolution in Italy and the first chemical production and dispersion of ammonia throughout Europe. After 1955, the increased abundances of these species and of Polykrikos schwartzii, Brigantedinium spp. and Pentapharsodinium dalei correspond to agriculturally induced alterations of the hypertrophic conditions. A slight improvement in water quality can be observed from 1987 onward.

Baseline activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb was determined for 25 resident and 22 migratory fish species collected in a so-called wedge bank region in the extreme south of India. A nuclear power station is now under construction at Kudankulam near the target region and the data provide background information on the radionuclide activity concentration in the region. Three-way ANOVA revealed no significant variation in the concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb between species based on feeding habit, habitat and migratory pattern except the effect of feeding habit on ²¹⁰Po concentration (p<0.05). The annual dose due to radionuclide ingestion through the fishes was calculated based on the survey results of fish consumption rates for the local population. The dose due to ¹³⁷Cs was negligibly small while those due to ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb varied from 1.2 to 36.9 and 0.2 to 2.9μSvyr⁻¹, respectively.

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were determined in surface sediments from Lake Shihwa and from creeks that discharge into this artificial lake. The toxic equivalents (TEQs) in sediments ranged from 1.0 to 1770pg/g dry weight, which were some of the highest values ever reported so far for coastal sediments on a global basis. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs decreased with increasing distance from the creeks to offshore regions of the lake. Based on a multivariate statistical analysis and congener profiles, it was found that high contamination by PCDD/Fs in creek sediments collected around Lake Shihwa was associated with releases from chlor-alkali processes. Significant correlations were found for total organic carbon content and the concentrations of highly chlorinated PCDD/F congeners. This is the first report to document chlor-alkali processes as a significant source of PCDD/F contamination in Korean coastal waters.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels were measured in sediments, bivalves and semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) in the relatively pristine marine environment of Nelson Lagoon, Alaska. Most PAH levels in Nelson Lagoon were low, and similar to global background concentrations. Sampling media type can significantly influence conclusions of PAH contamination in the environment. Concentration of a broad size range of PAHs was observed in the tissues of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). SPMDs collected some two- to three-ring PAHs from the dissolved water phase, while sediments collected five- to six-ring PAHs that were likely adsorbed onto particulate matter. Benzo(a)pyrene, a potent carcinogen, was found in mussels at levels similar to more industrialized harbors in Alaska.

We have studied the distribution and value of phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in surface sediment samples taken from Anzali Wetland, Iran. These samples were collected from 22 stations during the time span of June–May 2010. In each of the sampling stations, we detected 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA) with maximal concentrations of 29, 4.3, and 7μgg⁻¹ dry weight (dw), respectively. High levels of alkylphenols (APs) and BPA were also found near urban areas. Furthermore there were no significant differences between those stations in terms of the detected levels. One of the important factors in controlling the fate of these compounds in the aquatic environment appeared to be Total Organic Carbon (TOC). Hierarchical cluster analysis showed differences in the biomarker characteristics of EDCs and TOC between the stations. Our findings indicate that EDCs are ubiquitous in sediments from northeast Wetlands of Iran, contaminating the aquatic habitats in this area.

Human health concerns and the dissemination of anthropogenic substances with unknown consequences are the reasons most often given why disposal of municipal sewage sludge in landfills or using the organic waste as biofuel is preferable to land application. But no “fertilizer” causes more nitrogen pollution than sludge when applied according to Virginia law. Poultry litter is the only other “fertilizer” that causes more phosphorus pollution than sludge. Cost savings by the few farmers in Virginia who use sludge are far less than the costs of the nitrogen pollution they cause. A ban on the land application of all forms of animal waste is very cost-effective and would reduce Chesapeake Bay nutrient pollution by 25%.

We propose a framework for spatially estimating a proxy for coral reef resilience using remote sensing. Data spanning large areas of coral reef habitat were obtained using the commercial QuickBird satellite, and freely available imagery (NASA, Google Earth). Principles of coral reef ecology, field observation, and remote observations, were combined to devise mapped indices. These capture important and accessible components of coral reef resilience. Indices are divided between factors known to stress corals, and factors incorporating properties of the reef landscape that resist stress or promote coral growth. The first-basis for a remote sensed resilience index (RSRI), an estimate of expected reef resilience, is proposed. Developed for the Red Sea, the framework of our analysis is flexible and with minimal adaptation, could be extended to other reef regions. We aim to stimulate discussion as to use of remote sensing to do more than simply deliver habitat maps of coral reefs.

Hair is used to determine trace elements exposure and status of pinnipeds because it is an excretory route for many elements and can be collected non-lethally. Despite increased use, there have been few studies on how sampling designs and procedures (e.g., hair type, collection site) affect results. The objective of this study was to determine whether concentrations of an essential (selenium; Se) and non-essential element (mercury; Hg) differed between hair samples collected from two body locations on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Concentrations of Se and total Hg (THg) differed between mid-dorsal midline and neck samples, and although the absolute differences were relatively small (Δₐbₛₒₗᵤₜₑ Se=0.69μgg⁻¹, Δₐbₛₒₗᵤₜₑ THg=2.86μgg⁻¹), the relative differences were large (Δᵣₑₗₐₜᵢᵥₑ Se=49%, Δᵣₑₗₐₜᵢᵥₑ THg=17%). These differences highlight the need to standardize the collection site for trace element determination in pinnipeds.